Alabama is one of only three states which allow trial judges to override a jury's verdict of life without parole and instead issue the death sentence. Furthermore, Alabama is the only of these three states with judges who are elected officials and the only state in the country that permits judges, without limitation, to override a jury verdict.

More than 80 people currently sit on Alabama's death row because of a judge who exercised judicial override and disregarded the recommendation of jury during the sentencing phase of their trial.

Below is a list of judges known to have imposed the death sentence through the use of their ability to override the jury's recommendation: